A Vernon councillor is raising alarm bells after the drug trade took virtual control of a park this summer. Coun. Pat Cochrane says it was quite noticeable that drug activity was more prevalent in Cen
otaph Park. “It was a concern to anyone who frequents downtown. The area around the park had changed in attitude,” he said. That view is backed up by the 2006 safety patrol report presented to council Monday. “A much younger and more aggressive group took control of Cenotaph Park and as a result, it became an area that the safety patrol were not welcome to attend,” said Rachael Neuhaus, community policing co-ordinator, in her report. “Thus, while they did continue to make their presence known in the park, they certainly did not have the relationship they had in previous years. The usual residents of Cenotaph Park moved to Polson Park where the team was still welcome.” Cochrane is convinced that the situation had a negative effect on downtown. “Some of the businesses have had increases in shoplifting and there’s an impact if customers are intimidated,” he said.
Cochrane fully supports the actions of the safety patrol, community policing and the RCMP. He believes the problems in Cenotaph Park are a result of a weak justice system. “We need a change in the system. A lot of criminal activities are not prosecuted and the few that are being prosecuted aren’t a deterrent,” said Cochrane. “If there are no consequences, they can take over our downtown core.”
Coun. Patrick Nicol points out that security patrols have increased, but admits the scope of the issue is troubling. “Fear means you give up going out. There’s an unease with what’s going on,” he said of residents, particularly seniors.
“There’s a sense that we’re less safe and we have to reclaim some of these areas.”
In her report to council, Neuhaus states that urban problems are increasing as the community grows. “The influx of more openly aggressive individuals into specific problem areas has certainly caused many of our more vulnerable citizens to feel more intimidated and frightened,” she said. “There was, and continues to be, a much more aggressive and fearful atmosphere on the streets. Local social agencies who deal with the regular flow of disenfranchised have noticed an escalation of aggression and a line drawn between the old and new crowd on the streets.” Neuhaus points out that drug use and the changing nature of the street has increased pressure on the RCMP. “This problem will not go away quickly or quietly, further providing the need for the safety patrol and their uniformed presence is greater now than ever before if we are to maintain that the City of Vernon is a safe place to be.”
otaph Park. “It was a concern to anyone who frequents downtown. The area around the park had changed in attitude,” he said. That view is backed up by the 2006 safety patrol report presented to council Monday. “A much younger and more aggressive group took control of Cenotaph Park and as a result, it became an area that the safety patrol were not welcome to attend,” said Rachael Neuhaus, community policing co-ordinator, in her report. “Thus, while they did continue to make their presence known in the park, they certainly did not have the relationship they had in previous years. The usual residents of Cenotaph Park moved to Polson Park where the team was still welcome.” Cochrane is convinced that the situation had a negative effect on downtown. “Some of the businesses have had increases in shoplifting and there’s an impact if customers are intimidated,” he said.Cochrane fully supports the actions of the safety patrol, community policing and the RCMP. He believes the problems in Cenotaph Park are a result of a weak justice system. “We need a change in the system. A lot of criminal activities are not prosecuted and the few that are being prosecuted aren’t a deterrent,” said Cochrane. “If there are no consequences, they can take over our downtown core.”
Coun. Patrick Nicol points out that security patrols have increased, but admits the scope of the issue is troubling. “Fear means you give up going out. There’s an unease with what’s going on,” he said of residents, particularly seniors.
“There’s a sense that we’re less safe and we have to reclaim some of these areas.”
In her report to council, Neuhaus states that urban problems are increasing as the community grows. “The influx of more openly aggressive individuals into specific problem areas has certainly caused many of our more vulnerable citizens to feel more intimidated and frightened,” she said. “There was, and continues to be, a much more aggressive and fearful atmosphere on the streets. Local social agencies who deal with the regular flow of disenfranchised have noticed an escalation of aggression and a line drawn between the old and new crowd on the streets.” Neuhaus points out that drug use and the changing nature of the street has increased pressure on the RCMP. “This problem will not go away quickly or quietly, further providing the need for the safety patrol and their uniformed presence is greater now than ever before if we are to maintain that the City of Vernon is a safe place to be.”
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